Electric toaster



Oct, 6, 1931.

R. KUHN ELECTRIC'TOASTBR Filed Oct. 22. 1928 Zdiert xi 21.27:

alfouacasl merited g e,- 1931 mural) .sr-ATEs PATENT 1 OFFICE.-

nonnnr' noun, or nnrnorr, menrem, ASSIGNOR 'ro AMERICAN ELECTRICAL 1:12am I comm, or nnrnorr; mcnrem, a'conrom'rxon or moment 4 mnc'rmc 'roAsrEn Application fled october 22, 1928. sem No. 314,238.

The invention relates. to electric toasters A and more particularly to the typewherein the heating element is arranged centrally and pivoted bread holders are provided on opposite sides thereof, movable from' a loading positionwhere theyare approximately horizontal to a toasting position where they are inclined inwardly from the vertical.

The primary object of the invention is to provide an improved construction for manu- Y ally operating the two bread holders simul- .taneously from inactive to toasting position.

Another object consistsin the provisionof a construction adapted particularly for. manual closing and-for automatic opening.

after a predetermined time interval.

These andothenobjects are attained" byv providing the novel construction hereinafter more fully described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a side elevation of a toaster provided with myinvention;

- Figure 2' is a transverse section therethrough;

Figure 3 is a horizontal sectional" view through one end of the toaster.

Referring now to the construction illustrated, the electric toaster consists of a base '10 carrying the vertical heating element 11 which is arranged centrally thereof between end plates 12 and 13 which in turn carry an upper horizontal platform 14. On either side of the heating element 11 are arranged a series of rods or wires'15 against which the slices-ofbread are adapted to rest when in toasting position. ,These rods or wires are supported in brackets 16 on the base 10 and extend vertically upward for a short distance and are then inclined inwardly as indicated at 17 so that theslices when resting against the rods are held in position by gravity.

- The bread holders 18 in the construction illustrated are hingedly secured to the end plates 12 and 13 to pivot about the points 19 and 20.

Each bread holder has the open-work back portion 21, side flanges 22 and an upper end flange 23. They also have the inwardlyprojecting bottom" flange 24: arranged at an obtuse angle to the back 21 in such a manner thatwhen the bread holder is moved to open the end plate 13 t position, the bottom of the slice will be engaged bythe portion 24 and moved outward thereb causing the slice to slide downward into t e bread holder with the previously toasted side engaging the bottom 21 of the holder. By reason of this construction the slice is automatically reversed each time the bread holder is moved from toasting posi tionito the open osition. As illustrated in dotted lines in igure 2, the bread holder when in open position inclines downwardly below the horizontal plane and on the other hand, when the bread holder 1s in toasti position, it is inclinedinwardly beyond the vertical plane thus making the total angular movement from open to closed position over 90.

.One of the features of the present invention is the provision of a construction for simultaneously 7 operating the bread holders through an angular movement greater than 90 and carrying out this movement I have Each bread holder is provided with a tooth segment 25engageable with rack teeth 26 .on

thus urging the bread holders to open posi' tion. For maintaining the bread holders in operative position any suitable mechanism may be provided and as shown this is 'a manually operable device consisting of a pivoted handle 51 having an arm 53 engageable with a recess 54 in the slide 27.

. Adjacent one end plate of the toaster is arranged a vertical rod 60, surrounding-which there is a coil spring 61.. The slide 27 has a bracket 62 extending therefrom surrounding the rod 60 and forming an abutment forthe spring 61. 63 is another bracket fixed to the end plate of the toaster and serving as the utilized a novel construction as hereinafter J more fully set forth.

opposite abutment for the spring. The spring thereforeserves as a buffer preventing undue shock when the bread holders fall to open position by gravity action. In this movement the slide 27 moves upwardly, thus compressing the spring between the brackets 62 and 63.

In the operation of the 3 toaster as above Y described, the handle 28 isdepressed thus moving the slide 27 downwardly and simul tafieously rotating the segments until both toast holders arejin'operative relation to the heating element. To counteract the spring 44 the handle 51 is operated to cause the arm 53 to engage recess 54 in the slide 27, thus'holding the toast holders in operative position.

' When the toast is finished the holders may be manually released by operating handle 51.

The spring .44 thereupon moves the slidev 27 upwardly and imparts an outward motionto the toast holders. When the holders pass the vertical position they will be acted upon by gravityand fall to the downward position.

Before reaching this position the spring 61 is compressed between the brackets 62 and 63 thereby cushioning the shock. It will be observed that with the construction as described above, I have provided means for simuItane-- ou'sly operating the toast holders without employmg llllkS. What I claim as my invention is 1. A toaster comprising a frame, a palr of toast holders hinged to said frame, gear seg ments secured to each toast holder, a slide on said frame engaging said gear segments and 1 manually operable means for moving said slide thereby simultaneously adjusting said toast holders.

2. A toaster comprising a" base, a vertical heatingelement above said base, a pair. of hinged toast holders on opposite sides of said element, gearsegments on each of said toast holders, a vertically slidable plate mounted on said frame and having rack teeth engaging the respective gear segments and means.

. for vertically moving said slidable plate.

' 3- A toaster comprising a base, a vertical heating element above-said base, a pair of hinged toast holders on opposite sides of said 'element, gear segments on each of said toast holders, a vertically slidable plate mounted on said frame and having rack teeth engaging the respective gear segments, a spring normally urging said plate in an u ward direction and aresilient buffer opera le by the upward movement of said plate.

4. In a toaster, a pair of shafts, toast hold ers rockably mounted on said shafts, gear segments on said toast holders, and a rack slidable between said shafts and transversely of the axes thereof engaging said gear segments for rocking said toast holders on said shafts.

5; In a toaster, a vertical heating-element,-

' horizontally arranged shafts on opposite-sides of said heating element, toast holders rockably mounted on shafts, gear on said toast holders, and a rack movable longitudinally in substantially a vertical plane between said shafts andengaging'said" ear segments for rocking said toast holdersa out said shafts. a g

6. In a toaster, a vertical heating element, horizontally arranged shafts on; opposite sides of 'said heating element, toast holders rockably mounted on said shafts for movement toward-land ajway from-said heating element, gear segments on' said toast holders, and a yertically slidable'plate. arranged betweemsaifdtoast holders and having rackteeth engaging-the respective gear segments for rocking said toast holders toward and away from said heating element.

7. In a toaster, a toast holder movable to I toasting and non-toasting positions, a gear segment on said toast holder, a rack engaging said gear segment for moving said .toast holder to either of said positions, means urging said toast holder to non-toasting position, and means -for locking said toast holder in toasting position.

8. In a toaster, a toast holder. movable to toasting and non-toasting positions, a gear segment on said toast holder, a rack'engag ing said gear segment for moving said toast holder to either of said positions, a' spring engaging said rack for urging said toast holder-to non-toasting position, and means engageablewith said rack forlocking said toast holder in toasting position.

9. In a-toaster, a heating element, a toast holder movabletoward and away from said heating element, a gear segment on said toast holder, a rack engageable with said gear segment for moving saidtoast holder, a spring for moving saidrack in one direction, and means engageable with said rack for looking the same against movement by said nally in substantially a vertical plane,rand

an operating member connected to the rack. 12. In a toaster, a frame, a pivotallv mounted toast holder on the frame, a member .movable-longitudinally in substantially a vertical plane, and a connection between said member and holders operable upon longitudinal movement of said member to 'swlng'said holder .upon its pivot, including a part carried by the holder, and means Jalried by the member engageable directly with said part.

13. In a toaster, a frame, a pivotally mounted toast holder on said frame, and actuating means for said holder including a gear segment connected to the-holder, and a sliding rack engaging the gear segment.

14. In a toaster, a frame, a pivotally mounted toast holder on said frame, a rack slidable longitudinally in substantially a vertical plane, and an operating connection between the rack and holder including a part projecting from the holder and engageable directly with the rack.

15. In a toaster, a frame, a pivotally mounted toast holder on said frame, and actuating means for the holder including a longitudinally movable member, and means rigid with the holder and substantially concentric with its pivot engageable directly with the longitudinally movable member.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

ROBERT KUHN. 

